Article: THE COMPASSION THAT NEVER FAILS | Gladys Biju George, India

Every individual in this world needs and even desires compassion in one way or the other. To a child, having a compassionate father means everything. All material and worldly desires can be sought up to a certain extent but fail to fulfill our void gap in our mind. But if one can draw near to the heavenly Father and experience His love, we taste and see that He is good, and we will never lack anything.

God’s Compassion as a Father: As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. (Psalm 103:13). The scripture portrays the compassion of the divine Father to his children despite the sins that they commit, or the rebellious and disobedient character they display. Is it not the same compassion that is ultimately expressed through the act of love? Yes, even while humanity lost the glory acquired from the Creator, the compassionate eyes of God compelled to offer up God’s begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and made the sinless Lamb of God a ransom for the sinners. Words are never enough to express the deepest love that Father bestowed on His children. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). The word ‘so’ has great significance which human minds can never measure. Jesus came so that we should have life and that we should have it more abundantly. “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28).

God’s Compassion as a Mother: The scripture further asks “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15,16). This verse puts forward a question and in turn compels our minds to ask this question ourselves. We know it is not possible for a mother to forget her child. But God says, “Surely they may forget”. The word ‘surely’ makes the statement more accurate and deep enough to state a perfect conclusion to the temporary love of humanity. When situations change, people and their behaviour also changes. In contrast, our heavenly Father says, “I will not forget you”. Father God further confirms it by addressing this verse, “See I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:16) This is worth more than the world, and it is a privilege to experience the compassion of the Father. Yes, it can never be compared to anything. Lord spoke to Moses, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Exodus 33:19) Our position, qualifications, abilities never matter; rather it is the heavenly Father’s will or desire to grab you totally into His compassion and grace.

God’s Compassion as the Provider: In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus explains the meaning of being a ‘neighbour’ to an expert in the law who approached him with the question, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25) In human terms, the priest and the Levite who passed by are the very ones who were supposed to show compassion on the beaten man. But even when their hearts were hardened to show compassion, the good Samaritan did it. That’s how God is. It is written, “The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season.” (Psalm 145:15) and “Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?” (Job 38:41) He is the one feeds the birds of air that neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, clothes the grass of field which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, numbers the hairs of our head, and does not forget the sparrows sold for a few coins. Therefore we need not worry about anything as we have a compassionate Father who numbers our wanderings and puts our tears into His bottle. For He himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). May He guide us always.

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